LTC class to be offered in Hale Center Saturday

There's a license to carry class being offered in Hale Center on Saturday.

Dennis Burton has noticed his classes seem to fill up after such events and he's anticipating a rather large class on Saturday, he told The Herald in early August just a few days after a shooter opened fire at an El Paso Walmart.

Burton is one of a handful of known license-to-carry instructors around Hale County.

He's been teaching the class for 10 to 15 years hosting classes once every month or two, said the former law enforcement official.

The courses cover everything from how to handle a gun to what you need to know before you pull the trigger, he said.

It's very in-depth and covers a lot of topics most people don't think about before making the decision to get their license, he noted.

On Saturday, Burton is set to teach a class in Hale Center at the High School.

Classes begin at 8 a.m. and usually wrap up by 4 p.m.

Participants will spend some time going over laws and the moralities of gun use before moving to the gun range.

The cost to participate is $50. This is a class to determine eligibility to apply for the license through the Texas Department of Public Safety.

To take the class, participants must be at least 20 years old but can't apply for their license until they turn 21.

According to the DPS website, those interested in obtaining an LTC must: be 21 years old, must meet Federal qualifications to purchase a handgun; must have no felony convictions – some misdemeanor convictions may result in disqualification; no pending criminal charges; no chemical or alcohol dependency; certain types of psychological diagnoses or protective or restraining orders may also result in disqualification.

Those interested in taking Burton's class need not own a gun, but you are encouraged to bring your own ammunition.